Welbeck and Jones in Under-21 squad

Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones have been called into the England Under-21 squad
for next month's double-header against Azerbaijan and Israel, casting doubt over
their involvement in the senior side's matches with Bulgaria and Wales.

Welbeck had been tipped to keep his place in Fabio Capello's party for the
European Championship qualifiers, while his new Manchester United team-mate was
an outside bet to earn his maiden call-up.

Both were rare success stories from England's dismal Under-21 Championship
campaign in Denmark this summer, with Jones ending the tournament as captain.

Welbeck and Jones are two of eight survivors from head coach Stuart Pearce's
22-man squad which failed to reach the European semi-finals.

Along with Welbeck and Jones, they remain eligible for the 2013 tournament,
which England begin their qualification campaign for against Azerbaijan on
September 1 at Watford.

They take on Israel in a friendly at Barnsley four days later.

Pearce, who signed a new two-year contract this summer despite the failure in
Denmark, told www.thefa.com: "You've got the likes of Welbeck, who is a still
an Under-21 player, around the senior squad, the likes of Henderson mentioned in
squads, and Walker.

"There are a lot of players who have gone through the system and that is also
what we're trying to achieve, give them as much experience as we humanly can, at
all the age groups.

"I'm very pleased that a lot of players are pushing through at both club and
country level.''

He added: "Our focus is going to have to be spot on from the offset because
we're in a qualifier straight away. We really could be in the driving seat or, alternatively, it could be up in
the air. I've got a feeling, looking at the sides in our group, that getting to the
finals will be difficult.''

Five of the squad have tasted success previously with the Under-17s, who won
last year's European Championship, including Wisdom, Barkley, Wickham, Josh
McEachran and Jack Butland.